Method and apparatus for making tire treads



w. 3. l--REEMANl E1' AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING T-IRE TREADS Orginal Filed July 28. 1923 3 SheetSl-Sheet l Dec. 20, 1927 1,653,356 w. B. FREEMAN ET Al.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TIRE TREADs s sheets-Sheet 2 Drglixxal Filed Ju y 98.A 1923 Dec. zo, 1927. 1,653,356

W. B. FREEMAN ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TIRE TREADS Original Filed .m5,r 28. 192s s sheets-sheet s fn Ufn inns.

M guy.

lapping and being 'oined to the face of the yzo . Patented 20, 1927.v

f UNITED STATES WALTER n. resumen, 'URBAN cgmmr, AND vrnoiamzz r. inmune, 4oir anon,

IPAf'lEN-Tl OFFICE.

OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE B. l'. GOODBICH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.4 Y., A 00B- Y POBATION OF NEW YORK. l

minion AND uniu'rus ron ruimte Tran wissens.

animation mea myss, im,`semi ila. 654,487. aenewe'a :une a', 1927.

This invention relates to assembling ,lami-A' nated stri material and vmore particularly lto inetho s and apparatus. for assembling and' combinin the several com onent parts 5 of tire trea s. An; assemble tire tread usually comprises a tread slab ofunvulcanized rubber, a relatively narrow breaker- ,st-rip or/insert of rubberized, coarsely `woven fabric laid along the middlev of the inner 1Q face of said tread slab,7 and a thin cushion orlfillerstrip.v 'of unvuleanized. rubber constituting the innerfacing ofthe tread. 'The tread assembly may also include the sidewall strips, the latter-being attached along the edges of thetread slak-preferably overslab opposite the reaker 'strip and filler 5 strip y v v In the manufacture of treads of this char-V acter, a common practice is to form the tread slabs by the usel of a tubing -or extruding machine, cutting -the individual slabs to somewhat greater length than required for a tire, and storing the slabs with their ends anchored, as by folding them around the `ends of the stoi'a to cool and; shrink. .After the uslabs are l cooled, they are, in. such practice,cut tothe length required for individual treads, andv 'asseinbledwith the breaker and filler strips. Such assembly, although performed y skilled workmen, v'i s ":sl ow, and the ipractice v described results .in considerable waste 1 bel-l lcause only onetread slab is cut .from-.each

length of stock `although the latter, as a' 'matter of conveniently anchoring-'fitsy ends -on books somewhat over length ma be somewhat longer than required for a single tread. Our chief objects are 'to rovide animassembling laminated stri material, asin the 'building or .assemb ing tire treads, whereby accurate assembly .ma

labor and material may be sav andz p1 0- to end, to form continuous strips, and the assembly strip-which may be severed into individual treads. A further object is to provide for the simultaneous performance book,n to permit theslabs proved method and improve y apparatus for' be had,

duction increased. More specific-objects are to provide an .improved method and ap`- paratuswhe-reby relatively short lengths of; the several materials may first be joined, end' latter then' progressively fed finto contact. with each other to' form a continuous treadminimum loss-of time, at respective stations upon the same. installation.-

Of the accompanying drawin s':. I l Fi .1 isa front elevationo the righthan -porti'on of our apparatus in its preferred form.' y

Fig. 1^ is a front elevation, inY continuation of Fig. l, of the left-hand, work-deliverinportion of the saine.

the apparatus, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section online 3`3 of Fig. 1* showing a' motor stopping, device.

Fig. '4 is a plan view, on a lar er scale, -of a portion of an endless belt driving mech-v anism therefor, and associated elements, with parts brolienl away. Y v J Fig. 5 'is a vertical section on line-5--5i`of Figui. .l

ig. '6 is a ers tive-view, on ay ar scale, of a paii omork-guides ge mountin Y l Fig. 7 is a section on li-ne 7-7 of Fi 1.-

Fig. 8' is a section on line of Fig. 9 isra lar e-scale, perspective, mentary view of greaker-strip-'applyin 'and filler-strip applying mechanisman tthe work in place.A v v Fig. 10 is asimilar view of ig. 11* is .a typical transverse lsection `throughs stock guidin trough'.

. descriptma frame A. in which are mounted, in lon "tudinal alignment, three endless belt carriers B,

C, "D, somewhat spaced apart, and adapted to yca ous -of tread slab material-E as the latter is made up bysplicing together shortreach ofthe rst carrier at the right #of Fig. V1.

.over and parallel with the'carrier B, `:for ."splicing together by. hand, upon its `upper reach, short lengths of breaker-strip'material to l"foimfscontinuous'strip G of the lata 'side-vim.ll, applying mechanismand 4the work in place.-A

Fig. 1 2 is "a sections perspective view of,

The apparatus comprises a long,utablelike er lengths v.of such-material u n the upper n A' fourth-endlessfbelt carrier is mountens ig. 2 isa horizontal section of parts of 'forward longitudinallya continuy Y i ter. A fes-tooning rack H,'Fig. 1, is adapted as 22'I (Fig. 6), by which said stub shafts are said carrier B, to apply the breaker stri G between the carrier B and the-device I, a

to receive the continuous breaker stri at adjustably clamped between parallel sups'uch variable rate as may be necessary, rom porting bars 23, 23, mounted upon the framev said belt carrier F, and give it olf at a suit- 'A so that saidl guide rollers 22 `may be able rate to a breaker-strip-applying and adjusted laterally of the course of the work fller-strip-applying device 1, (Figs. 1 and to correct the alignment of the latter or may 9),.5the latter being adapted to receive the be moved toward or from each other to adapt tread-slab` stri E from the belt carrier B, them `forslab strips of different thickness. said strip taking. an upward course from In order. that the slab strip E may have,

- and a filler strip J thereto, (Figs. 1 an 9) suicient vertical reach in which to be turned l .and is adapted to receive the composite upon supporting rolls'u24, 25 (Fig. 1) as to strip K from the belt carrier C, through have a work-supporting reach 26 sloping and to deliver the resulting, composite strip, flatwise between the rollers 22 and soguided K, to the belt carrier C; as described without undue strain of its A side-walLapplying device L, (Figs. 1A margins, the belt carrier B is so mounted an intervening pressing dev-ice M, (Fig. downwardly to its work-delivering position. to apply thereto side-wall` stripsvN, N (Figs. A pair of guide rollers 27, 27 are journaled 1A and y10), and to deliver the completely on the frame .A in position to steady the assembled tread strip,O, through a' presswork as the latter leaves the carrierB and ing device P, to the belt carrier D. The is drawn upward between the rollers22 devices are so arranged that the strip K Mounted upon a brid e 28 secured to the rises vertically to the side-wall-applying de frame A and spanningt e horizontal upper vice L. A marking device Q, (Fig. 1^) is reach of the carrier B is asolvent-applying mounted over said belt carrier D and is device comprising a pivoted .wick-holder 29 adapted suitably to mark the completely as/-fand a wick 30 therein, the outer end of the sembled strip Oto facilitate the cutting of wick being adapted to rest uponthe slabthe latter into lengths suitable for individ-.

. ual tire-treads.

a train of gearing 13, including a shaft 14, a, roll 32 so journalled in the frame A as to Endless belt camera and associated' parte. The three tread-slab-supporting belts, B,

strip E as the latter passes thereunder and to progressively apply solvent tothe slabstrip, the inner face of said stri bein uppermost, and the other end of t e wic extending into a well of solvent supplied in a C, and D, and the breaker-strip-supporting well known manner by an inverted jar 31. belt F, except as hereinafterdescribed, are 29El is a set orA weight-bars' ivoted on the adapted to be driven by a single motor 10, wick-holder 29 and adapte to press the Fig. 1^. Said motor is adapted, through a wick against the work.

sprocket chain 11, to drive a shaft 12, and The belt carrier F is adapted normally to said shaft is operatively connected through bev drivenfrom the belt carrier B, through with the adjacent end roll. of the belt carbe driven by the lower reach of the last rier D,\and, through a drive belt `15, with mentioned carrier, said roll having drivin a shaft 16 connected, through Aa train of connection through a sprocket 33 an gearing 17 including a shaft 18, with the sprocket chain 34, 4with a sprocket 35 rotatadjacent end-roll of the belt carrier C. ably mounted on the shaft 36 of the adja- Said end roll is operatively connected cent end roll 36 (Figs. 4 and 5) ofthe belt through a drive belt 19, with a Reeves varicarrier F. Said sprocket 35 is adapted to able-speed-drive 20, the latter bein ada ted drive said roll, counterrclockwise as viewed to drive the belt carrier B throng Ya rive in Fi 1, through ratchet 37 secured to the belt 21, said variable-speed-drive being inspxgo et and a "awl 38 on a pawl carrier 38'* terposed in order that such stretch as may secured to the s aft; 36, (Figs. 4 and 5) ata be imparted Ato the continuous slab strip E, determinate speed with relation to that of f prior to its union with the fabric breakerthe carrier B. Also rotatably mounted upon 'shafts 22, 22, thev latter being formed at u strip Gamay be compensated in the speed of the shaft 36' is a. rocket 39 adapted to be p the carrier B with relation to that of the cardriven, through a c ain 40, from a motor 41,

riei's C and D. 1 g,

For guiding the softslab strip E in ac` curate alignment to the breaker-strip-applyon a 'pawl-carrier 43 secured to the s aft 36,

of parallel ide rollers 22, 22 (Figs l and rapidl t than the carrier B, the pawl 38 run- 6), adapte Yto receive] said strip between ning gi' them and guide it by contact with its broad The motor 41 is provided with a normally faces, are journaled upon respective stub open starting switch ,42 (Fi 7) mounted n the far' side" ofthe g rame A, nand their base ends with anges 22", 22h and proa apted to be closed from-the near sidel of vided with washers such as 22 and nuts such lsaid frame, by a plunger rod 43 connected l said sprocket lbeing adapted, through v`a 1, ratchet 12 secured to its hub and a awl 43 los' ing and filler-strip-applying device I, a pair to :drive said' shaft 36, on occasion, more ee onthe Aratchet 37 at such times. .125

Lacasse said rock shaft extending the length of said;

table and being provided with spaced, for:- gdly extending lever arms 46, 46, which ve their free ends connected by a bar 46, said bar thus beingwithin the reach breaker/strip operator at all parts ofthe endless-belt carrier F.

` so that either the breaker-strip `spring 47 The plunger-rod 43 is normally held out of enga-gement with the switch 42 against the weight of the bar 46a by ,a compression interposed between a collar 43 on said plun er rod and a bracket 478L through which sai `rod passes. A clutch 48 is interposed operatively between the roll 32- andf the sprocket 33 and is adapted to be shifted by means of a ship er 'fork 48 fulcrume'd on the 'frame A an having 'its free 4end connected by a link 49 to a lever l50 Which is mounted on a foot-operated rocker arm 51 provided with a treadle 51. a spring 51bfbeing provided for normally holding said clutch engaged, this arrangement being such that in normal operation thebreaker stri G and the slab strip E are carried forwar at substantially the same rate, being spliced up on their respective carriers while the latter are in motion, but the breaker strip carrier F may bel either stopped by means of the treadle 51, yvhile the sla -stri carrier B is driven, or `said carrier F may driven (the rod 46 being depressed lto close the switch 42) while the carrie `B is sto ped,or the carrierF maybe driven at yt le same time but at greater speed than the carrier B, operator or the slab-strip operator may continue at work while the other is inactive.

Festoonal'ng rack.

'sprocket-chain 55 from a sprocket 56 secured on the shaft 36 of the ycarrier/F, .to feed. the breaker strip G into the festoonin rack whenever said carrier'is driven, Said reaker strip passing under a guide roll 5K6a journalled on the frame structure of the carrier F. A-hand-crank 57 is loosely journalled on the'nearfend of said shaft 36 and prov1ded with clutch teeth adapted to engage complemental clutch teeth on the hub of the Sprocket 56 for manually drivin the sprocket-chain and carrier F when ver the moto'` 41 1s disabled.' A feedin -outl roll 58 is lournalled in the top of t c frame 52 o f the festooning rack and ada ted to be driven by filler-strip-applying device I, to dellver of vthe a. belt 59 from the brea er-strip-applying andtightener for the kbelt.71.` To'supplement the theaction of the guide rollers 22 as th'eslab 13o "breaker-*strip G' to said device whenever the -l'atters driven-,ga storage loo Gr1 preferably l I being allowed between the estooning rac and said device.

For maintaining the breaker strip G in festoons 'substantially equal length inthe 'rack-H, a.' floating frame 60 is mounted upon rerticalj-guide-'rods 61, 61, securedv to the frame- X52 and has-journalled 'therein rolls 562, 62,1- adapted tofbe'lthreaded by the/work alternately with thfe rolls 54, 53, 58. A counterweightf?,forlfthe .floating frame 60 is connected-"with the-latterby cables 64, 64 passing 'over' guide' pulleys'-65, 65, on the top of the frame 52,; sa1d-cables running to opposite ends of 4the'floating frame, so that when the running "of the stock into or'out of the v festo'oning rack causes unequal tension in the festoons vof stock at 'the respective ends of the floating frame, which in theabsence of the counter-'weight would permit the latter toA depart from horizontal position or to bind on the' guides4 V 61, such inequality in the tensionof the festoons is compensated b the force of the weight 63 being borne most y by `the end of the floating frame which tends v-to assure the lowermost position, andthe floating viframe is thu's kept in horizontal position by the counterweight while said frame rises and falls in response tothe feeding of the stock into orout'of the device.

Breakcr-strzp-apflyng l fiZler-strip-apz/wg drew@- This device, I, comprises a. frame structure V65 clamped upon a pair of vertical posts 66, 66, .andadapted to be.' raised or lowered, when its clamps are loosened, b screw 67 projecting downward' rom said 'frame structure through an aperture in a part of the frame A and .provided with an o 'erating' hand wheel 68 screwing thereon, w ose hub bears against said part `o' frame A. The frame structure 65 is thus adapted to beladjusted to and clamped in different positions vertically, a Greater or less vertical reach 'of the slab -strip E accordin to the vcross-sectional size and character @lg the latter, some types of slab strips requiring a longer vertical reach in which to be turned and guided by the rollers 22 as above described.

Journalled in the upper art of the frame structure 65 are two stoc -supporting and driving-rolls 69,70, driven by a belt 71 from a pulley 72 on the shaft '73 of the adjacent end roll of the belt carrier C, said rolls being adapted todraw the slab strip E upwar between the pairs of guide rollers 27 and 22,-

a pair of flanged, 176, mountedy on and A to thebelt 'carriery C. 71L

a jackf the' to provide for 'lll ' strip rises therefrom asimilar pair of guide .posed with relation to said gui rollers, one of whc e is shown at 172, but` spaced farther apart than ythe rollers 22,

project from the frame structure 65, these guide rollers 172 being 'adapted to contact the edges of the slab stripata point where l it has turned back almost into parallelism with the roll 69 in passino to the latter. The

22 'and 172 are ada ted to tion so as not to be impeded in the case of a misaligned splice passing-said rollers. A guide trough`173 (Fig. 9) is mounted on the frame structure 65 and adapted to support and guide the slab strip as the latter slides thereover 'from the roll 69 to the roll slab strip E as the latter passes' from the guide trough 173 onto the roll 70, an inclined chute, Figs. 1 and 9, is mounted on the frame structure 65 and a waisted, edgeguiding roller 7 5 (Fig. 9) yis journalled ad- ]acent the delivery end of said inclined chute. Flanged guide rollers 76, 77, 77 for the breaker strip G are mounted atthe receiving end of the chute 174, the roller 76.

being drivenpby a belt 78 from a pulley se- L cured on the shaft of the'roll'69 and a sec- 4o ond pulley onsaid shaft drives thefbelt running to the feedout out'roll' 58 of the festooning rack, the^rolls 76, 58 being thus. adapted to be driven atsubstantially equaly speed sol as to maintain the storage loop' G1. The

Aguide trough 173 and chute 174 are of similar construction, each having lateral guides 17 8, 17 3", and 174, 17 4, respectively, adapt'- ed to be adjusted to accommodate material of various widths, said guides lhaving threaded ,studs projecting through transverse slots in the floor of the supporting structure, land provided with clamping nuts 177, 177, -as shown clearly in Fig. 11. The filler strip J is sup lied from a stock roll 79 (Figs. 1, 1A and 2 said stri being interwound with a liner 80, and sai stock-w' roll being journalled on-journal-notched uprights 81, 81, rising from a dove-tail slide 82 mounted on a transverse guide-wav 83` su ported upon the frame A and bridging t e elt earner C lon the opposite' side of' the.

, device I from the festooning rack. Three ofjsaid'uprights 81 are provided, so that two stock-rolls` may be rotatably supported thereon at thesame time, their ]ournals rest- For guiding 'the breaker strip G onto the e ing `incolnmon u on the middle u right, th1s arrangement' eing such that eit er of the stock rolls may be brought into alignment with the slab strip by movement of the slide 82 on its uideway 83.

Hinged on t e slide 82, midway between adjacent stock-roll-sup orting uprights 81, are two arms 84, 84, eac 1 havin on its outer end a yoke 85, the forks of whic 1 are notched to receive the, journal of a liner-rewindin roll 86 so that the latter may rest lupon an be driven by the composite strip K as the latter is carried vforward by the belt carrier C, one or the other of the arms 84 being aligned withr said compositel strip'whenever the correspondin filler-strip stock-roll is so aligned by posit1oning of the slide-.82.

e For holding1 said slide in .position so to' align Aone or e other of the. stock rolls and its liner rewinding roll, and 'at -the same time to hold'the other liner-rewinding roll above and out of contact with the belt carrier C. a bar 87, mounted on'the frame A, bridges the belt carrier C under the hingeend portions of the arms 84, said bar having a low middle portion permitti the workaligned' arm 84 to be su porte by contacty 4 of its liner rewinding ro l with the composite stri K, and said bar v.has a notch, such as 88 Fig. 2) in its upper face, at each end, in which one of the arms 84 rests while the other is at the middle of the bar,J said arm thus' being held elevated, with its liner rewinding roll out of contact with the work, Aand also so held as'to'prevent displacement ofthe slide 82.

For guidingand tensionin the 'liner 80 as it passes from the stock roll 9. ,to the liner rewinding roll 86, a pair of guide .tension barssuch as 89,.'-89, (Figs. land 2) are tori.

mounted upon each of the yokes 85, and a` pair ofbars or shafts 90, 90, bridging the carrier C, are .mounted in uprights'91, 91,

rising from the frame A. Each of said' shafts preferably 4has mounted thereon Aa set of cylindrical tube-sections or, rolling col-u lars lsuch as 92, 92, (Fig. 2), to permit` relatively. fee running of the liner at that posil tion, and said shafts arel so ositioned as to cause the liner, the latter 'ng threaded about themas lshown clearly in Fig, 1, to leave the stock roll at a different tangent from that of the iiller strip J, vthe latter being drawn4 forward from the roll bythe reach of liner between the shafts90 and the guide-tension bars 89, this arrangement, the liner and the filler strip passing on opposite sides of the lower shaft 90, assuring that adhesion between the two will be broken before the filler strip is carried on the liner to a position from .which itis drawn upward, leaving the liner, to the applying device I.

strip-guiding lchute 93, one side member of which isv omitted for clearness'ot illustra- Said `devieefI includes an inclined filler-l broad faces of the.

tion, (Figs. 1 and- `The floor of said I chute Aconsists of a set of small stock-Sup' porting rollers 94,194, and at the upper,

stock-receiving end of said 4 chute a larger'.- 4giude roller 95 is journalled von the frame.

structure ,65 and adapted to receive the filler strip as thelatteris drawn u ward from the liner 80, between a air o 96, projectin' from the said guides eing adapted to contact the filler strip in the mannerheretofore described as to the-'slab stripand the guide rollers 22. The filler strip Jmay be so threaded,as shown, be-

-tween the guides 96 ndover the roller G5,

that itI passes onto the latter in an inverted nalled therein,-v close. Yto -the slab-strip-supporting roller 70, so as to align the filler strip justprio'r to its passage onto the combinedslabstrip and breaker strip vas shown cleairl in Fig. 9. 99 is a presser roller jour- 'nal e 100, 100, the latter being' pivoted von tlie trame structure65, as at 101 (Fig. 9), some on theouter ends of a pair of arms what above the axis of the roller 70, so that 'the roller. 99 is adapted to ride' upon the Work and. press it against the roller 70,

thereby compacting the work and also assisting to, holdlit in good driving engagement with the last `lmentioned roller. lThe arms 100 being pivoted notfar from the axis of the roller 70, the force of gravity, supplemented by the driving force of the work, acts upon the roller 99 in a, direction almost of the latter 'against the work, due to the consequent mechanical advantage, is grea-te than the'weiglit of the roller 99.

Pressing, side-wZZ-applyitg, and( Hdefuwes.

The presser device Mcomprises a v1arge,'.

. to co-operate with the roll 102, the' roll 103 being journalled in journal 'blocks such as 104 mounted in vertical guideways formed in brackets on the frame A, and said journal blocks being adjustable in said guideways by means of adjusting screws such as 105 threaded through the usual bridge- 'pla/tes, such as 106, spanning said guide- Ways.

" Secured upon driven shaft 16 isa guides 96,v ame structure 65,`

.the proper turnmg work-suiporting1 ro1l.107 ada ted to receive the wor from t e presser rol s 102, 103, and advance it-into a storage loop K1, to be drawn 'vertically therefrom, .between a pair of guide rollers 108, 108, similarto the roll? ers 27', 27,' above described, and a pair of.

guide rollerssuch. as 109, similar' to the rollers 22 above Vdescribed, to the side-wallap lying device AL.v

' aidV vice L comprises a frame structure 110 adjustably clamped upon Averti :al posts 111, '111, so that itmay be. raised or lowered vertical rise of the comthe storage loop K1, for and ilatwiseguiding of to providea suitable posite strip K, from stripsof diierent width yor character,

cal rise, 'so as to have-its' outer face uppermost, in the device L, to receive the sidewall strips.A -Journalled upon 'said frame structure are two work-supportin and drivingrolls 112, vL13", driven abe t 114 from a pulley on theshat' 16, an a pair ofguides,

which lis shown at 115, corresponding one of to the guides 172 above described, project from said frame structure for guiding the strip as it passes onto the roll 112. Secured upon the frame structure 110 is. a guide trough `116, similar to the trou h 173 above described, adapted to support t e composite strip .K fromthe roll 112 to the roll 113 and' an `xnclined, double,

gquidingchute 117 for the side-wall strips is mounted thereover, being secured to the frame structure.

Said vchute comprises two uideways, aside member of the rnearer gui eway being omitted for clearness of illustration. The floor of each guideway consists of a set 'of stripsupporting rollers such as .118, 118, and at the delivery end of each guideway is journailed a guideroller such as 119 (Fig.\10) tangent to the roller 70, so that the pressure adapted towork upon the upper faceof'the the strip K being inverted as Yit vmakes said vertiion side-wall strip to assure that `the side-wall' strip will pass-onto the strip K from sub` stantially the same direction notwithstanding increases of tension in the former' such as may `occur from retarding forces acting u n` the strip nearerits source of supply.

cause the side-wall-strips to bedrawn onto the strip K in' pro erf-alignment, as the latter passes to the elivery end of the guide trough 116, and a roller 120 corresponding to the roller 99 above described and similarly mounted is adapted to press the com- 123 are mounted adjacent the 'presser rolll 103, and provided with pivoted arms such as 124 adapted to hold liner rewinding rolls such as 125 upon said presser rol-l as clearly e parts described are so positioned as to las loops such as N1.

position to guide the side-wall stri shownin Fig. 1^, so that said rewind' rolls maybe peripherally driven by sai resser roll, `thereby withdrawing "the liner rom thestock roll and so driving the lat-4 ter to feed the side wall strips'into storage Flanged guide Vrollers aremounted upon the frame structure 110 in N from said stora e loops into the restive guideways of t e chute 117, thegmde rollers for thenearer strip-being shown at 126, 127.-

128 is a lianv ed guide roller mounted on the frame A an adapted to guide the completely assembled str1 O as the latter` passes downward from t e device'L intoJ a storage loo'ihO. .i v t e presser device P is in all respects 'similar to the presser device M above described,

and is adapted to draw the strip-O from the' storage Aloop O1, compact it, and pass it onto the endless. belt carrier D.'

The marking device Q comprises a pair of u arms, one of which is shown at 129 (Fig.

14), pivoted on the framework of the presser device P and journalled at their-outer ends is a marker Wheel 130 adapted to rest upon and be driven by the completely assembled tread strip O as the latter is carried forward on the belt carrier D. -Said wheel is provided with a marker 131 prpjectin from its periphery,- saidwheel being adapte to rest upon and be driven by the treadstrip, ,to mark the latter for cutting into suit- 'able lengths to provide individual tire treads, wheels of different diameters being succes sively mounted upon the arms 129 for tire treads o f different lengths. The endless belt of the carrier D i's preferably thickly coated on its outer'face with gum mastic, 1 n order that an operator may cut into such coating, in severing the tread strip upon said belt, and thus avoid damage to the main body,

bf. the belt.

- '51 The motor 10 is' rovided with a starting and stopping switc 132, and, inorder that the operation of the machine may' be stopped by operators working at different stations thereon, is provided with an^auxiliary sipp-v ping switch 133 (Fig. 3) of such design as to permit the motor to start when pressure on said switch isreleased. To -stop the motor, the switch 133 is adapted tobeacf mounted foot-boards, at closely l secured to the vrock shaft 135 beneath the eol-- vent applying device, saidlever 'clearly in Lacasse.,

rearwardly and having its free end secured to the lower end of a vertical rod 139, the

upper end of which'isbent forward to extend beneath thel pivoted wick-holder 29, w

this arrangement beingtsuch that the wick 30 with its holder 29, is lifted out of contact withfthe tread-slab- E whenever 'fthe foot-boards are depressed to stop them'achine, thus avoiding an excessive deposit of solvent upon ysaid tread-slab. l Operation.,

4In the. operation of the apparatus the continuousfslab strip E is formedby' an operatorl oining to ther successive lengths of tread-slab stoc upon the right-hand end portion ofthe carrier Bas vlewed in Fig. 1, and the resulting continuous strip icarried forward bythe carrier B with its inner or breaker-strip receiving face uppermost,

,preferably Vbeing joined with thelr outer, faces uppermost and then turned over, while the continuous breaker strip G is formedby another operator joining together supceslive lengths of breaker strip stock u on thc carrier F. The slab strip E 'i` a vanced until its leading enduis beyond t e lbreakerstrip-applying and iller-strip-applying device 1, sald slab -strip being carried under the wick 30 of the` solvent' applying device, between the guides 27, 22, and 172, over the rolls 69, and through the trough 173, be-

tween Asaid rolls. Concurrently the breaker strip G is advanced through the festooning rackH, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, over the guide rolls 77,'77, 76A through the guidev chute 174, and under the guide roller and its leading end is started upon the slab strip, with allowance of material for -the` storage loop G1. These operations may be facilitated by driving the apparatus by means ofthe main drive motor 10, Fi 1^.

A roll 79 of filler strip stock J ing mounted u n4 the standards 81 as shown ,i 1 and 2, the liner 8O thereof is threaded aut the Guides and 89 (Fig, 1) and started-upon the liner-rewinding roll 86 while the filler strip J is drawn from said roll as shown, advanced between ther guides y96, over the guide rollers 95, 97j, through the chute 93, over the guide roller 98, and started upon the combined slab and breaker strip `u pon the roll 70 the resulting composite strip K being then further advanced, through plarts the apparatus -as shown, including t e ressing device .M, the apparatus prefera l being driven, until the leading end of sai stripV is past the side-wallapplying device L, with allowance of materxal for thestorage loop K, Fig. 1^, said composite strip being inverted as it is cari'ied to said device L. Rolls 121 of sidewall stock N being mounted as shown upon the brackets 123, their. liners.122 are started 'upon the respective liner "rewinding rolls un. l

125 and the side wall strips -N are. carried over the guide rolls 127, 126, through the re.

s ective guideways of the chute 117,-under t e respective guiderollers 119, andstarted -upon the composite strip K, a sufficient quantity of the liner 122 being drawn onto the roll 125 by hand, or beforel the side wall strips are started upon the strip K, to provide the storage loop N1. A

With allowance for the storage loop 01,

the complete strip O is advanced through the second pressing device P as shown, under themarker wheel 130 and onto the carrier D.`

The apre tially continuous operation and is driven throughout by the `motor with-only such stops of the latter as may be required in' I case of accident or in case the operator or operators who splice together the lengths of slab strip material are 'required to suspend .operations while the other operators catch' "filler strip stock rolls. or providing a sup l'y.

' parts o fj the up inthe matter of replacing side-wall or of the continuous breaker strip. Very ew stops are necessary as to the lbreaker-strip supply, however, as the breaker strip oper.- ator may be inactive for a time, releasing the clutch 48 to sto festooning rack while the latter continues '.to supply the breaker strip, Aand the reserve in sald ra'ck'may then be increased byde'- pressing the bar 46 and thereby actuating the motor 41 to drive the feeding-in lroll 54 of the festooning rack faster than -Fthe other apparatus are driven by the motor 10; l

The solvent applying device 29,- 30, 31, progressively and automatically applies "a suitable solvent to the' inner face of the slab strip as the `latter passes thereunder, so as) this way. 1

.to assure proper 'adhesion'vof the breaker Jstrip and, filler strip. The variable speed 'drive 20 may be adjusted toscompensate for stretch in the `slab stri' occurring before the strength-giving brea er strip is com bined with it, and the several storage loops Cil G1, K1, N1, and 101, so provide for unequal feeding, stretching or shrinkage of the work at different parts ofl its course that stop's `for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the amount of material in said loops are not frequently'required'.

The materials being supplied as described, requiring but few operators for large' production,the apparatus automatically com bines thev several strips of'stock into a cornplete,l composite tread strip and delivers 1t on the carrier D, marked`to suitable lengths for individual treads, and 'said composite A stri is severed as marked, upon the carrier D, by one or more operators, and the severed strips are 'suitably disposed booking them. n

Lacasse rdtus is then ready for substan the feeding of the breaker strip from t e carrier F into hthe':

lap aratuscomprismg means for stri sive y into contact with'each other, to form of, by re" The provisionv of a pendant vertical reach of each of the exible strips closely adj aent their point of junction permits very accurate guiding of said strips, but small lateral force being necessary to hold the hanging striimto the proper alignment, land the stripten g b ravity to ali itself ,in a perfectly ver-V tical position. 'lie devices 1 and L being vertically adjustable, the length of the vertical reaches of the slab or' the composite strip as thestrip passes' to said devices conveniently ma be varied to correspond tothe size or c aracter of the strip, heavier or stiffer strips requiring a longer vertical reach for the proper guiding of the same.- The liners 8Ov and 122, their respective rolls being peripherally drivengby the work, rotate the stock rolls to draw oil the comparatively weak and stretchable filler and. side wallstrips so that theslatter are supplied at suit- (able rates without being subjected to excessive strain. The inclined guiding 4troughs or chutes for the filler strip and the side wall strips, oored with rollers, are highly aidvantageous in the guiding of the latter, since they provide a reach of considerable lengthV in which the strips, being supported' largely from the. upper end of the chute, bear but lightly on t e floor rollers, so that folded or wrinkled parts may readily slide'laterally of the Ichute and so flattenout in accurate alignment.

The method and apparatus as 'described 'are adapted for tlie assembling with the other strips a tread-slab strip of full section, .such as a tubed tread, as distinguished from the relatively light strips which heretofore have been combined in a laminated tread.

slab by feeding them -into contact'with'each other, and we believe that we are the first assemble heavy, full-section tread slabs 1n said -compositerstrip, as they'pass-to said feedin means, ,the meansfor guiding the treads fab stripy comprising a rollervmounted to ,support the strip in a slack reach/and guides for the strip positioned within the limits of said reach.

a paratus y comprismg `a slab-strip carrier adapted for the joining thereon of successive lengths of tread-slab stock to form a continnous slab strip, feeding means for receiving 2. Apparatus for making tire treads, said making tire treads', .saidl I.

breaker-strip carrier" and said feeding means 55 lengths of treadslab stock to form a continusaid continuous slab strip from said 'carrier and feeding it forward, means for driving said feeding means and said carrier in a determinate speed ratio, .a breaker-strip carrierd adapted for the joining thereon of successive lengths of breaker-strip stock to form a continuous breaker strip, guiding means for said continuous breaker strip adapted l,to guide it onto said continuous slab strip means interposed operatively between said for availably holding a'variable supply of festooning rack, including a feeding-in roll and` a feding-outroll, adapted to receive saidcontinuous breaker strip from said 'breaker-strip support, means for receiving said continuous breaker strip from said fes` -4 tooning-rack and guiding it onto said continuous slabsti'ip', means for driving said feeding-out roll in timed relation with said slab-strip-feeding means, and means independent of said driving means for driving Said feeding-,in roll..

`4i.. Apparatus for making tire-treads,.said

apparatus comprising a slab-stripl carrier adapted for )oining thereon successive lengths of tread-slab stock to forma con'- tinuous slab strip and to deliver said con tin'uous strip to a'determinate position, slabstrip-feedng'means, a roll over which the yslab strip 'is drawn 'by said feeding means said rollv being so positionedgas tol cause sai` continuous slab-strip to lrise vertically from said position, slab-strip-guiding means be-` tween said position and saidroll for guiding the slab strip onto the latter, and means for guiding a strip of material onto said Vslab stri as the latter is fed `by zsaid4 slab-stripfe'e g'means. I

. 5. Apparatus for making tire-treads, said apparatus comprising a .slab-strip carrier adapted for vjoining tliereon successive ous slab strip and to deliver said: continuous stri to a determinate position, slabstripfee ing.V means, a roll over which th'e'slab strip'is drawn by said feeding means, said roll being so positioned as to cause said'com tinuous slab-strip to-rise vertically from said 'pos/ition, slab-strip-guidinv means between said position and said roi for guiding aie slab strip onto1 the latter, and means for j Lacasse guiding astrip of material onto said slab l strip as the latter is fed by said slab-stripfeeding means, said slab-stripv guiding means including a pair of uides ositioned closer together than the wi th oft e slab strip and To so positioned with relation to said roll as to causeone -margin of the. slab strip to contact said roll in advance of the other.

6.- Apparatus for making -tire treads, said ap aratus comprising means for feeding a sla strip to a determinate.position,means for drawing said strip througha vertical reach from said position and further feeding it, means acting'u onthe vertical reach of `said strip for gui g the same, and means 80 for guiding a strip of material onto said slab strip at a more advanced -position than that of 'said guiding means.

7. Apparatus for making tire treads, said n apparatus comprisihgmeans for feeding a 35 slaA strip to a determinate position, means for drawing 'said Astrip through -a vertical reach from said position and further feeding it, means acting upton the vertical lreach of said strip for uiding the same,a'nd means 90 for guiding a str p of material ontosaid slab. strip at a more advanced osition than that of said guiding means,'t e guiding means lfor' said slab strip com rising a lpair ofA guides spaced closer toget er 'than the width *l5 n of'tlie strip but adapted to permit the pas' sage of the slab strip between them in oblique relation to their guiding faces as viewed inhorizontal section.

8. Apparatus for making tiretrea 'apparatus comprising means for feedinga slab strip to a determinate position, means for -drawing said strip through a verticalreach from said position andfurther feedin it,4 means acting u on the vertical reach o said strip vfor gui ng the same, means`for guiding a strip of material onto said slab strip ata more advanced position than that ofjsaid guiding means, and means for supporting one of said slab-stri feeding means 'at different heights tovary t e length of said vertical reach. t .4

` 9. Apparatus for making tire treads', said apparatus comprising means for feeding a s a u strip'to a determinate position, means 1.15

for drawing said' strip vthrough a. vvertical reachl from said position and further feedin it, means acting i1 n the vertical reach `o said strip for gui ing the same, means for guiding a Strip of`material onto said slab Jstrip at av more advanced position than that of said guiding means, and means for driving the respective slabstrip feeding means .at such different speedsv as to coin nsate for the stretch of said vertical rise. v

10. Apparatusfor making tire treads, said -alpparatus comprising means for feeding ,'a

strip to a deterl P itioiiI means for averticalreacb 13 4said 10 slab ,strip incidentto its 125,

strip, and means for guiding sai v`througli'- a vertical reach from -said liner.

Lacasse l from said position and further feeding it,

.means acting upon the vertical reach of said said guiding means, and .a variable-speeddi'ive interposed operatively between the Jiespective slab-strip feeding means.' 11. -Apparatus for assembling strip material means for feeding a continuous strip of. ma-

laminated terial, a stock-and-liner roll, a liner-rewind-A ing roll mounted to bear upon and be driven by theisaid strip of material to rewind the liner from said stock-and-liner roll and thus to withdraw stock and liner from the first mentioned roll, and guides positioned to guide onto the said strip of material the -stcclzk so withdrawn from the stock-and-linei ro 12. Apparatus for making tire treads, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a tread-slab strip, means for supportingA a roll of fllei' strip' stock and liner over said slab strip, means for supporting a liner-rewinding roll so that it will ride upon and be frictionally driven by the work to withdraw the lfiller strip means for lguiding said filler strip onto said slab stri the last said means comprisin ide ro 1ers so positioned as to cause sai er strip to rise'thr'ough a vertical reach, and guides acting llatwise a strip as it passes through sai vertical reach.

13. Apparatus for making tire treads, said apparatus comprising' means for feeding a tread-slab strip, roll of fllerstrip stock'and liner over 'said slab stripf means for .supporting liner-re-` windin'g roll so that it wil ride upon 'and be frictionally driven bythe work to withdraw the filler strip from said roll, guiding means for said linerlso positioned as to provide a reach of liner' adapted to conve and 'onto said slab strip. y

14. Apparatus for making tire treads,

lsaid apparatus comprising means.for feeding. a tread-slabsti'ip, a slide mounted for transverse movement with slab stri as the latter is Jso fed, meansgon said sli e for rotatably supporting a pluyrality ofstock-i'olls ef tire-tread -stri ma terial with liners, means on said sli e for su portinga plurality of liner-rewinding rolls so that one or another ofthe same may ride uponand be periphera'lly driven by the work to withdraw said strip material from the corresponding stock-roll and means for guiding said strip-material onto the slab l strip, said slide being positionable to bring one or another of vvits stock rolls and thecorresponding liner rewinding roll intent/iperative positien.-

said apparatus comprisingv from said roll, v

ainst said filler means for .supporting av the filler filler strip relation to v said curing one of making tire tread said a`plurality of en ess- -to convey longitudi-v 15. Apparatus for apparatus comprisin belt carriers adapte ta continuous slab strip, slab-stripnaell' fe in'g means postioned operativelyv be-A tween said carriers, and means for guiding a strip of tread material onto said slab strip as the latter-is supported by said slab-strip. feeding means.

16. Apparatus for making tire treads said apparatus comprising a plurality of endlessbelt carriers adapted to convey longitudinally "a continuous slab-strip, slab-stripfe'eding means positionedV o ratively between said carriers,- side-gui ing means for guiding a str'pof tread material'onto said slab stri y ast e latter is supported by said slab strip feeding means, and means Afor pressin said strip of treadmaterial onto said sla strip.

17. Apparatus for making tire treads, said apparatus comprising means for feeding aslab strip to a determinate osition, means for drawing said strip throu a vertical reach from said position an further feeding it, means for supporting one of said slab-strip feeding means at different heights and means for guiding a stri-p of tread material onto sai lslab strip after it passes through said vertical reach, said iding 2 18. Apparatus for making tire treads, said a paratuscomprisingmeans for feeding a s ab vstrip and means for uiding a strip of treadv material onto saidg slab strip, the last said means comprising an inclined chute and a. pair of side-guides mounted on said cliute. Y. v

1 9. Apparatus for making tire treads, said' aparatus comprisingmeans for, feeding. a sla strip anddmeans for 'din astrip of tread material ontosaid s ab strip, said means comprising an inclined chute, and aseries of strip-su rting rollers constituting the floor of sai chute.; 20. Apparatus for making tire treads, said apparatus comprisingy means' for feeding a stretchable 'strip ofv rubber to a determined position and means for so drawing said .strip therefrom throu hfa vertical reach as to subject the strip erein to thetension only of its own'weight, and means for se# the aforesaid means indiferent positions height of'said -vertical reach and thus oo rrespondingly 'to 'vary the tension of the strip at the upper part of the said reach.

21. Apparatus for making tire treads, said' means .being adjustable for strips of ifilerent l' the last -.l lo

lll

to determinately vary thel Vapparatus comprising means for progresa stripof tire treadinateal. to a slab strip, means for y composite strip, and

latter at determinate sivel a lying '.'.o| the mul -means for marking` intervals as it is so fed, the last said means comprsing a wheel adapted t0 ride upon the work and a marker on said wheel.

22. Apparatus for making tire treads, said apparat-us comprising means for longitudinally feeding a slab strip, a .roller over which said slab strip passes, 4means for guiding a tread-material strip onto said slab strip before the'latter passes vfrom said roller, a pair of arms pivoted on an axis parallel with and adjacent theaxis of said roller, and a presser roller journalled on said pivoted arms and adapted to run upon the work as the latter is carried upon the periphery of the first said roller.

rierV comprising a belt and a coating of 'plastic material thereon into. which a ,knife may cut in severing the strip on said belt without injury to the latter.

24. Apparatus for assembling laminated strip material, said apparatus comprising means for drawing a continuous str1p upward ,through a substantially vertical pendent reach, means for guiding said strip as itpasses through said reach, and means for guiding anot 1er strip thereonto as it passes from said pendent reach. l Y

25. Apparatus for assembling laminated strip material, said apparatus comprising means for drawing a -continuous strip upward through a pendent' reach, means' for guiding said strip as it passes through. said reach, and means for guiding another strip thcreonto asl it passes from said pendent reach, the said guiding means for the first mentioned strip comprising va member Aadapted to cause said strip to assumeY a torsional form in said pendent reach.

26. Apparatus for assembling laminated strip material, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a strip, Va well of liquid positioned adjacent the path of said strip, and "a wick having a part in said well, and another part adapted to drag upon said strip as the latter is fed thereunder, means for stopping the drive of the said feeding means, and means operatively connected with the said stopping means for lifting said wick out of contact with said strip when said feeding means is stopped, and Vmeans for guiding a second strip onto the first said strip after it has passed said wick.

27. Apparatus for assembling laminated strip material, said apparatus comprising means for feeding a strip, a Well of .liquid positioned adjacent the path of said strip, and a wick having a part in said well and another part adapted to drag upon said strip as the latter is fed thereunder, and a weight adapted t0 press said wick against the work,

and means for guiding a second strip onto the first said strip after it has passed -said wick.

28. The-method of making tread-slab assemblies for tires which comprises providing a shrunk, full-section tread-slab strip having a plane face on one side and a raised medial zone on the other side, andapplying a fibrous llayer adhesively to the strip by guiding the two into pro ressive contact with each other while prope ing them by engagement with their mutually adhering portlons.

29. Tread-assembling apparatus comprising means for drawing past a plying position with its plane face uppermost a full-section tread-slab strip of rubber having a plane face on oneside and a raised medial zone on the other sidefmeans for effecting accurate alignment of 'the tread-slab strip at the plymg position, means for guiding a strip of fibrous material into progressive contact with the exposed plane face of the tread-slab strip at the plying position, means for progresslvel pressing the twoadhesively t0- gether, t e said drawingmeans being constructed and arranged to draw the two strips -by engagement with their mutually adhering portions, and means for eiecting a. longitudinal, progressive tensioning of the treadslab strip as it passes tothe plying position. Inwitness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this day of July. 1923.

WALTER B. FREEMAN.- URBAN C. HAREN.l

FLOR-ENZ P. HARTUNG. 

